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BLOGK PRINTING MACHINE. No. 452,038. Patented May 12,1891.

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No. 452,038. Patented May 12, 1891.

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BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE.

N0. 452,038. Patented May 12, 1891.

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BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 452,038. Patented May 12,1891.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. G. E. HAMBLET. BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE.

No. 452,038. Patented May 12, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGEE. HAMBLET, OF BURY, ENGLAND.

BLOCK PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,038, dated May 12, 1891. Application filed September 28, 1889. Serial No. 325,423. .(No model.) Patented in England February 21, 1889, No. 3,146.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE EDWARD HAM- BLET, mechanical engineer, of Bury, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented certain newandusefullmprovements in Block Printing-Machines for Printing in Two or More Colors, (for which I have applied for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 3,146, bearing date February 21, 1889,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved construction'of machine for printing designs in various colors by means of engraved blocks or other flat surfaces at one operation or printing, or without removing the material from the machine until the printing in a a number of colors is completed. It is designed especially for printing floor oil-cloth, linoleum, and the like, or upon textile fabr1cs, paper, or other materials wheradeslgns are required, made up of or printed in a number Hitherto in the printing of such designs, whether from blocks, stones, or other fiat surfaces, it is generally customary to print each color at a separate operation and remove the material from the machine, replacing it again and removing it for each separate color. Any want of correct register in replacing the material for either color spoils the design, and the liability of spolling the sheets, either from this cause or by soiling them in handling, is increased in pro.- portion to the number of colors in the design.

This invention consists, essentially, in apparatus constructed with a carrier movingto and fro horizontally on curved or double inclined slides fitted with two or more blocks or other printing-surfaces, one for each color in the design, two or more color-pads or their equivalent (such as rollers) for transferr ng the color to the printing-surface, a traveling band or table to carry forward the material a regulated distance as each design is printed, a series of color-tanks to carry the color or ink to be used, and suitable mechanism for operating and adjusting the several parts of the machine. I W

I will describe the invention as applled to the printing of designs engraved or out upon blocks, though it will be understood that, in stead of engraved blocks, stones, difierent sets of types, or other fiat printing-surfaces maybe substituted, each surface being intended to print a distinct color.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of machine from front or feed end; Fig. 2, aside elevation; Fig. 3,a plan; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional elevation on linemc, Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 5, a longitudinal sectional elevation, enlarged, on line y y, Fig. 3, showing arrangement of color-troughs and printing-table; Fig. 6, a sectional elevation, enlarged, showing device for opening and closing color-taps; Fig. 7, a transverse sectional elevation, enlarged, of blocks and block-carrier; Fig. 8, atransverse sectional elevation, enlarged, of feed end of machine.

The engraved blocks or other flat printingsurfacesAare mounted in a carrier or holder B, by which they are raised and lowered and moved to and fro horizontally. The number of engraved blocks A used is regulated by the number of colors to be printed and must cor-- respond thereto. The machine shown in the drawings annexed hereto is designed to print six independent colors. In the carrier are secured (side by side) by set-screws a or other fastening device the different blocks requisite for any required design, and at each movement or stroke of the apparatus all the blocks are brought to bear upon the material.

The carrier or holder B is mounted upon two or more curved or double-inclined slides O, to which it is connected by the arms or links b and the cross-barb, each end of which is mounted in slide-blocks b", that travel to and fro in slots 0 of the slides 0. Each of the slides C is fitted with a screw or other mechanism D at each end, whereby they can be raised and adjusted to any required height. At the rear of the slides O are placed a series of color-pads F, one for each printing-block or color.

The carrier B is moved to and fro over the curved or inclined surface of the slide 0 by means of cranks e on shaft E and connecting-rods e. As it moves horizontally it is gradually raised and then lowered at each end of its stroke. At the end of the forward stroke the blocks A are brought to bear or imprint upon the material, and at the end of the backward stroke they come in contact with the color-pad F or device for supplying them with color. By adjusting the slides in which the carrier moves to any height any required pressure can be given during the printing operation.

The color-pads F, from which the colors are transferred to the printing-blocks A, are each supplied with color from a reservoir or tank G. These tanks are each fitted with a tap g, through which the color flows, carried by a spout g to the pad F. Each tap g is connected to a reciprocating bar or beam H by a connecting-rod H, attached to a lever h on the tap. 'The length of the connecting-rod H, or the distance between the beam H and the tap g, is adjusted by the screw and nuts h at the end of the connecting-rod. The beam H is moved up and down by the cam I on the shaft 2', operated by the crank J and eccentric J. The lift of each connectingrod H will be regulated according to the quantity of ink or color, required for each stroke to the extent of allowing the tap to remain closed, if desired.

The reciprocating beam H is supported at each end with guide-pillars H", fitted with springs which move it down again after being raised by the cam I. tributed over the pads F by brushes K. The brushes K are each connected by screwed fork-pieces is to a cross-bar K, that slides in the slots 0" in the slides O. The cross-bar K is actuated by the connecting-rods 7c and cranks 76, from the shaft. The coloris brushed over the pad F and the surplus falls into a trough 7c and runs through the pipe f to a receiver, where it is collected, and from which it may be pumped or otherwise lifted into the tank G for reuse.

Instead of the pads F, inking-rollers or other similar device, either stationary or in motion, may be used to convey the color or ink to the blocks.

The material to be printed upon (preferably in the form of a roll) is passed forward by a traveling band or table L over a stationary table M, where it receives the impression from the blocks. To the edge of the table is affixed a bracket or stop m, against which the block-carrier B comes in contact at each stroke, stopping its forward travel at the same spot each stroke. band L receives motion from a pair of steamheated cylinders or rollers N, one at each side of the machine. The cylinders N are each moved forward a regulated distance at each stroke of the machine, the distance moved being equivalent to the length of the printing-blocks. They are mounted on pedestals N, and on one end of each shaft or is fitted a ratchet-wheel O, with the teeth on which the catch or pawl 0 engages. ried on linksP,which are supported on thesha'ft 47,, one on each side of the Wheel 0. The two pawls are connected so as to work synchro nously by the rod 79 with screw-adjusting pieces at one or both ends. actuated by the double crank Q Q, which is The colors are dis- The traveling The pawls are car- The pawls are supported on the stand or pedestal q, and actuated from a moving part of the machine by a crank q, to which it is connected. The distance of travel of the cylinders N, and with them of the traveling band, may be adjusted tov suit the design to be produced. The traveling band L, which passes around the cylinders N and carries the material through the machine, is stretched or tightened by the sliding brackets Z. The table M, over which the traveling band passes and upon which the material is printed, is preferably hollow, and heated with steam to assist the drying of the colors. In front of the cylinder at the front of the machine is a small roller N, fitted with spring-bearings n, which bear upon the material, causing it to move with the cylinder N and traveling band L. At either side ofthe roller N and over the sec ond cylinder N are small sheaves or pulleys 1", around which a band, chain, or- Wire R passes. I prefer to use a wire. The wire R passes around the pulleys or sheaves r and over the top pulleys S, receiving rnotion therefrom. The top pulleys S are actuated by an eccentric S, acting through a crank s, pawl s, and ratchet-wheel s. The wire R rests upon the upper surface of the material and, traveling in the same direction, holds the material in position on the traveling band L. A gripping device of anyconvenien't form may, if desired, be carried by the wire to prevent independent movement of the material. Where the material is in a roll, itis mounted on a spindle placed on a stand and passed forward to the machine by rollers T, and at the delivery end is passed out by the wire R, passing round the sheaves 7'. At this end of the machine a rotaryor other knife U may be employed to cut the material as it emerges into lengths or sheets ofany required size.

The rollers T feed the material forward continuously, while the cylinder N takes it up intermittently. By this arrangement no drag is put upon the material to prevent it passing forward the required distance under the printing-blocks at each stroke.

Instead of a roll, the material may be fed into the machine in the form of sheets of any convenient size.

V are the driving-pulleys, and from them motion is carried to the various parts of the machine through the'shafts WV and X and the gear-wheels o, w, and 0a.

In operation color will be supplied to the pads F from the tanks G and the block-carrier B, moving to and fro in the double-inclined or curved slide 0. The printing-blocks A will be brought successively into contact with the color-pad and the material to be printed upon. The material as it passes through will at any given place first receive an impression from one block. At the next stroke the material will have passed forward and will receive the impression from the second block, while a fresh portion of the mate* rial is printed from the first block, and so on at each successive stroke of the machine until the material has successively received an impression from each block.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In amachine for printing in two or more colors, the combination, with a reciprocating carrier to carry two or more flat printing-snr' faces, of curved or double-inclined slides, along which it moves to and fro and by which it is lowered at each end of the stroke, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for printing in two or more colors, the combination, with the reciprocating carrier, -flat removable printing-blocks,

and curved or double-inclined slides c, of a sta-.

. colors, the combination, with the slide 0 and adjusting-screw D, of the flat printing-blocks A, the reciprocating carrier B, the links I), cross-bar b, and slide-blocks b, which traverse the slot 0, substantially as described.

slides in the slots 0', and screwed fork-pieces 10, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for printing in two or more colors, the combination, with the fiat printingsurfaces A, reciprocating carrier B, color-pad F, and brush K, of the tank G, spout g, and tap g, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for printing in two or more colors, the combination, with the fiat printingsurface A, reciprocating carrier B, and colorpad F, of the color-tank G, tap g, lever h, cross-bar H, and connecting-rods H, substantially as described and shown.

8. In a machine for printing in two or more colors, the combination, with flat printingsurface A, reciprocating carrier B, color-pad F, and color-tank G, of the spout gf, tap g, lever h, connecting-rod H, cross-beam H, nuts h, and cam I, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

e. 13. HAMBLET.

Witnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRIEN, WILLIAM H. TAYLOR. 

